Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

Innate Realm.

Where even flying flowers and plucked leaves can be lethal.

Wei Tu was now confident that with his Martial Arts strength, even if he couldn’t take a general’s head from amidst a ten-thousand-man army, fighting a thousand men alone would be an easy feat.

Wei Tu didn’t believe that Innate Martial Masters who had been cultivating longer than him, or those from the Immortal Families, would be weaker or have fewer techniques at their disposal.

’I still don’t know if the Immortals of Danqiu Mountain are righteous or demonic. If they turn out to be evil cultivators, showing up at their door unannounced would be suicide.’

’The most appropriate course of action is to first find an Innate Martial Master from the Government Office and ask a few questions.’

Wei Tu’s thoughts churned.

As he pondered, Wei Tu opened the Talisman Dao Introduction. Following the diagrams of the Immortal Talismans inside, he began Talisman Painting, channeling his Innate True Qi to guide the Spiritual Qi.

The Talisman Dao Introduction was an incomplete manual; it only recorded three types of Immortal Talismans.

They were the Water Talisman, the Earth Spike Talisman, and the Calm Heart Talisman.

The Water Talisman required Water Attribute Spiritual Power to create, which Wei Tu lacked. So, he turned his attention to the Earth Spike Talisman and the Calm Heart Talisman that followed.

The Earth Spike Talisman matched his own attributes, as it required Earth Attribute Spiritual Power.

The Calm Heart Talisman, on the other hand, could be drawn using Spiritual Power of any attribute.

A short while later.

Wei Tu followed the pattern for the Earth Spike Talisman and drew an Immortal Talisman that was a perfect replica.

In the years since he had obtained the Talisman Dao Introduction, he had long since memorized the designs of the three talismans and had practiced drawing them countless times.

However, to Wei Tu’s surprise, the moment the talisman was completed, the Talisman Paper flickered with Spiritual Light and then abruptly burst into flames without any breeze.

Seeing this, Wei Tu didn’t get discouraged and continued to draw the Earth Spike Talisman.

But the results were unexpected.

Over the next two weeks or so, he drew nearly seventy Earth Spike Talismans, but just like the very first one, they all spontaneously combusted. Not a single one was successful.

’Is it a problem with the materials—the Talisman Paper, Cinnabar, and brush—or is it my technique?’

Wei Tu stroked his chin and began to ponder the reason for his failure to create an Immortal Talisman.

He suspected the most likely reason for his failure was that the Talisman Paper couldn’t withstand the pressure of his Spiritual Power, which caused it to ignite.

When he cultivated the Immortal Skill and drew Spiritual Qi into his body, he had felt how domineering it was. Without his Innate True Qi protecting him, his meridians would have likely been destroyed by the Spiritual Power, turning him into a wastrel.

After all, he had reached the Innate Realm through External Cultivation Techniques, and the meridians in his body had long been tempered accordingly.

The principle was the same.

Just as an ordinary Martial Artist couldn’t withstand Spiritual Qi, ordinary Talisman Paper would naturally find it difficult to bear as well.

There was a reason he was so certain that his Talisman Painting technique wasn’t the major issue.

Wei Tu’s consciousness sank inward, focusing on the "Late Bloomer" Destiny Chart that was shining brightly in his mind.

At that moment, another line of text had appeared on the "Late Bloomer" Destiny Chart.

「Earth Spike Talisman (32/100): Practice five times a day to master in seven years.」

’A progress of 32% is the Minor Success stage. At this level, I should be able to successfully draw at least one or two talismans...’

’Since not a single one has succeeded in half a month, it must be a problem with the materials.’

Wei Tu shook his head.

...

「A few days later.」

They gathered at Xuanhe Tower once again.

Just as Wei Tu was about to announce that he had broken through to the Innate Realm, Fu Zhizhou spoke first, revealing that he himself had reached the Innate Realm.

Surprised, Wei Tu swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and waited for Fu Zhizhou’s explanation.

Although he had previously thought Fu Zhizhou might break through to the Innate Realm before him, that was an idea from nine years ago.

Four months ago, he and Fu Zhizhou had sparred and discussed Martial Arts.

Fu Zhizhou had admitted frankly that he was still accumulating Martial Arts True Qi and would need at least a year or two to finish. Only then would he have a chance to nurture his Innate True Qi.

In just four short months, Fu Zhizhou hadn’t even finished accumulating his Martial Arts True Qi. How could he possibly have broken through to the Innate Realm?

Under Wei Tu’s watchful gaze, Fu Zhizhou explained, "I broke through to the Innate Realm by asking Second Brother for a Blood Food Pill. It was only with the help of that pill that I managed to break through..."

"A Blood Food Pill?" Hearing this, Wei Tu’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t know what to say.

Everyone makes their own choices.

The drawbacks of the Blood Food Pill that worried him might mean nothing to Fu Zhizhou.

After all, Fu Zhizhou wasn’t like him. If his luck was poor, he might never have reached the Innate Realm in a few years, or even in his entire lifetime.

Viewed this way, it was actually a good thing for Fu Zhizhou to ask Weii Fei for a Blood Food Pill to achieve his breakthrough.

Compared to a lifetime of Longevity and the Immortal Fate he might encounter in the future, the possible side effects of the Blood Food Pill were hardly worth mentioning.

"Congratulations, Fourth Brother."

After suppressing the stray thoughts in his mind, Wei Tu put on a smile and cupped his hands to congratulate Fu Zhizhou.

As Wei Tu finished speaking, Kou Liang and Weii Fei also reacted, congratulating him one by one.

"When I borrowed the Blood Food Pill, I promised Second Brother that after I broke through to the Innate Realm, I would do everything in my power to help him break through as well, if the opportunity arises..."

"I felt I had to inform you, my sworn brothers, of this matter."

"Otherwise..."

"it would be bad if a gap formed between us because of this later on."

Fu Zhizhou continued.

Hearing this, Wei Tu was slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected Fu Zhizhou to have made such a promise when he asked Weii Fei for the Blood Food Pill.

But after his surprise faded, Wei Tu couldn’t help but shift his gaze toward Kou Liang and Weii Fei.

Fu Zhizhou knew his Martial Arts Realm. His words about a "gap forming" weren’t directed at him... but rather at their eldest brother, Kou Liang, the one who had "fallen behind the most" and "contributed the least" out of the four of them...

Among the four of them, Second Brother Weii Fei had contributed two Immortal Skills, giving them the chance to pursue the Immortal Dao.

He himself had the highest Martial Arts Realm and often shared his cultivation insights, shortening everyone’s training time.

Sharing the Immortal Skills had also been his suggestion.

Fourth Brother Fu Zhizhou had the best background and aptitude, providing them with connections. The fact that the three of them had been appointed as Eighth-Grade Military Officers in the Prefecture City was inseparable from the Fu Family’s influence.

Only Eldest Brother Kou Liang...

He had no Immortal Fate, no connections, and no Martial Arts Root Bone.

His help to the other three of them was negligible.

He was a true case of Cultivation from a Humble Family.

...

Under Wei Tu’s gaze, Kou Liang’s expression darkened slightly. He lowered his head for a moment, his thoughts unreadable.

Weii Fei was different. Although he was trying to suppress his emotions, anyone could see the joy emanating from deep within him.

After all, the help of an Innate Martial Master would greatly increase his own chances of breaking through to the Innate Realm.

Seeing this, Wei Tu hesitated, unsure whether he should try to save this Alliance that was on the verge of collapsing.

Three of them contributed, while one of them freeloaded.

An alliance like that was bound to fail sooner or later.

But he quickly recalled what Fu Zhizhou had done in the past. After becoming an Eighth-Grade Military Officer and getting far ahead of them, Fu Zhizhou hadn’t abandoned them. Instead, he had provided them with intelligence, telling them to practice their martial skills in secret and prepare Refined Armor for the battles to come.

It was true that Eldest Brother Kou Liang was freeloading off the three of them, but it was also something he couldn’t help... it wasn’t what he truly wanted.

’If I abandon Kou Liang today, who will be abandoned from our four-man alliance tomorrow?’